Westfalia Club Joker Camper Van Review and Full Tour!

[@paulcoombes8657]

An amazing van. I have always been surprised by how few high top Transporters are out there. We have a pop top but would love a high top. Great video guys. Keep up the good work.

[@jacquelinehudson8376]

We have this van, there is an integrated folding step to allow you to get in and out of the bed. It is normally stored in the cupboard below the fridge and held in place with the straps that you can see in your video. In the video I caught a glimpse of it stored on the floor between the butterfly bed and the back of that bed. As far as getting in and out of the bed, we manage OK - hubby is 67 & I'm 63, and if you sleep with your feet over the cab it definitely doesn't feel restricted, although obviously no morning cuppa in bed. We love the fact that we can park it in a normal sized parking space and with a bit of research find a car park without height restrictions. We are also currently restricted on the width of vans we can have as we live on a very narrow single track lane; so this being less than 2m wide fits the bill perfectly.

[@CampervanTime]

That's fantastic! Thank you for sharing your experience, it sounds like just the job for you!

[@adeodata6364]

Hi! Thanks for the feedback! I've watched pretty much every video there is out there about this campervan which I love and is one of my favorites to buy, but I suddenly realized that I've hardly seen any power outlets. That's strange! At the end corner of the kitchen but anywhere else? It looks like there may be sockets by the front left window over the dining room space? Also, 12v? USB ? Only two small lamps upstairs on the bedside? Thanks in advance for your answer! Have a great day 😊🌹

[@jacquelinehudson8376]

@@adeodata6364 Hi, On our van there are 2 x UK 3 pin, 3 x 12v cigarette lighter sockets. USB sockets in drivers cab. Lighting has undercabinet, over hob, over table, bathroom. These are dimmable.

[@adeodata6364]

@@jacquelinehudson8376 Thank you very much! ✨🌹✨

[@elliotcrilley]

Hi Would love to know what you think of CJ driving dynamics. I’m looking at a used 204 4 motion in exchange for my 4 motion California. I am phobic about the canvas pop top in autumn and winter. We have no aircraft hanger to dry it after a soaking. Does the van flail around given height ? Is it awful in cross winds ? What sort of payload is there on a 3.2 tonne plate ? I had a James Cook 2005 silver edition in 2009-12. Felt like a cathedral on wheels but it was an ingenious use of space. I think the high top is misunderstood by many. The ugly projection has been used by Westfalia because it allows a 2 m ( at least) long bed without it having to come too far along the van. Lack of ‘dead’ boot space is a concern. The T4 exclusive had a big rear wardrobe which you could pack with luggage. How do you find the shower flaps ? They look abysmal by Westfalia standards - prone to jibber in transit ? Any observations much appreciated.

[@Bandit-Iggy]

These are very special campervans, more an iconic milestone design. It started with the Exclusive and ends here, my advise don't sell it, they are investments, love the video👍

[@debdavet-cornwallandbeyond1649]

Interesting video. Sitting on the fence. Amazing van, BUT don't quite fully get it other than the length for parking perhaps. I like the shoilet concept, but reckon that would end up full of all the bigger stuff such as chairs, outside table, etc that you would normally pack under the rear bed. Would definitely suit someone who travels light, but wants the full facility of a small motorhome without the worry of driving a truck.

[@broadpete]

That top bed might be OK for size, but it's the space above it that's the killer. Can't sit up in it, difficult to exit from if you are not very 'bendable' and a nightmare if you are sharing it with someone. I had the T4 Exclusive which was the predecessor to this (and slightly better for being slightly less ambitious) but was still compromised by the coffin like top bed and difficult downstairs bed. You did well to avoid. That much ambition requires a bigger base vehicle IMO.

[@CampervanTime]

Thanks for the inside track from your T4 ownership

[@cooperandy3]

Clever design. A little too cramped upstairs for me and would miss the ability to get under height restricted barriers.

[@christinecorner8973]

I would like to have seen the downstairs bed set up and mention of whether it’s suitable for an adult. Otherwise, thanks for covering this model.

[@CampervanTime]

If you take a look at the club joker city video we’ve done we did get that lower bed out and I lie down on it - it’s the same one in this club joker.

[@robertdon777]

Got a silver Cali Exclusive...much the same, the only odd bit on the Joker is the small size lower bed, i think its a 3 berth

[@daletinsley2954]

I must admit that is a quality and practical van but would I actually spend 105k ( even if I had it ). !!?

[@robinkellett-navellou2606]

Really excellent review as ever - wouldn't go for this for a number of reasons but your depth of explanation and knowledge is superb. My only question is a matter of taste; I don't get why you're OK with the looks of this and not the GC 600. The bulge on the roof of this looks way more like a massive forehead than the GC IMO. Anyway, thanks for that one, enjoyed!

[@Taffyappleify]

As always a great review - love them 👍 As for the camper, it’s not for me - I’m not a fan of a fibreglass roof, just hints of upside own bath stuck with sealant. At £85k that’s just too much for what it is and £105k next year is just bonkers!! You did the right thing going for the Sven Hedin, it’s way better looking……..you just need to get it now 😉

[@CampervanTime]

We do! Hopefully only weeks now not months!!

[@pawelczernik]

Is there any safety net for upper bed to protect children from falling down?

[@jacquelinehudson8376]

Yes - a net is supplied with the van

[@grahams3417]

Feels like almost too much in there and if you want all that schizzle you may as well go for a bigger van. The beauty of a California is that it’s an everyday vehicle.

[@Ragorar]

I’d say the advantage of Transporters is the low height, once you’re willing to sacrifice the access to places due to excessive height it makes more sense to just buy a bigger van like a crafter.

[@johnsydenham3236]

Yep I agree, we thought long and hard and are pleased with the manoeuvrability and find very little down side to the larger 6 metre van to the point where our car is an unnecessary expense and I suspect the higher fuel consumption of the bigger van can easily be recouped from savings made through not having a car as well. I am retired which might make a difference.

[@caillinspain5822]

The other advantage of the Transporter is the width, it’s much harder to manoeuvre a van of the same length that is a bit wider. I had a crafter as my daily vehicle and now have a T5 and it’s so much more relaxing to drive, I do live in Devon so am mostly on narrow roads and parking in tiny spaces though. The crafter was always a struggle to park in summer and I was forever reversing or hunting for passing points when driving on the back roads, I don’t have this issue in the T5.

[@Ragorar]

@@caillinspain5822You’re right, I moved from a Zafira Tourer to a T6.1 and I find the T6.1 as easy to park and drive as the Zafira Tourer

[@romanomorelli2831]

Ive seen nicer high roofs on a T6 for example take a look at Werz Campers gmbh.nice layout in joker but the nose overhang bit of put off

[@tip00former1]

Yeah, that bulb, but it is there for a reason. I can live with it, depends on color. I had a look at the Werz but there is no comparison, it also lags a toilet and shower room. Werz is expensive too, so better take the Westfalia any day.

[@davidcambell4183]

Another cracking video, really nice but IMHO you'd have to be insane to pay £105k for this. Personally I think the RV bubble is about to burst, it's already happening with all new cars and these sort of vehicles will no doubt follow suit. If you buy this I'd expect to lose £30 - £40k within 18 months.

[@CampervanTime]

We’ll have to see I suppose. The club joker has been pretty resistant to depreciation over its lifetime (as have pretty much all Westfalias and Calis) but it’s tricky times that’s for sure

[@davidcambell4183]

Porsche 911's had rock solid residuals this time last year, yet there are loads of brand new ones with discounts of £20k sitting on dealer forecourts all over the UK.....@@CampervanTime

[@sanionara]

Totally agree with the RV bubble. This vehicule in 2017 was probably about 20%-30% less than now. On top of the price you have to add the cost of financiation. Imho the RV market is about to crash and eventually people moving to diy solutions. Regarding the van the downside I see with these Westfalia vw models is storage. The california has storage under the backseat where you can put all your stuff, boxes etc and it is more suitable for being your only vehicle. This van is more a motorhome. Additional to that with the hig roof you cannot park everywhere compared to the pop top roof.

[@CampervanTime]

I agree the prices have ramped up significantly, with quite a lot of that being the base van prices themselves. I'm not sure that they will crash, but that new and used sales will slow down quite a bit. I also think the market for the VW California (and Ford Nugget / MB Marco Polo) is slightly skewed by the types of finance that are available on those (PCP etc) vs most other motorhomes and campervans which tend to be more long term HP or cash sales. There is a normal general affordability issue with all of these coupled with the interest rate increases and general inflation / cost of living squeeze we all feel. All = slow down, just not sure about a crash, especially given the very low volume these are made in.

[@dorothyevans3864]

Great video - except for the wide/fish lens aaaarrrghhhh

[@CampervanTime]

Yes apologies for that - this was actually shot on a 360 cam and then exported and they are much more fish-eye than normal. It's not an easy van to film inside because it's small !

[@pharmacistsdoitoverthecoun5012]

Indium Grey? Looks like Reflex Silver to my👀

[@CampervanTime]

You are quite right - this is Reflex Silver 👍

[@travelcampervansandmore]

You missed the second bed! Worth also mentioning that you cannot buy the Club Joker anymore from new.

[@CampervanTime]

We did mention it! There are a few final edition versions being delivered in the next few months that are unsold, so in that respect you can still have a new one - but ordering to a bespoke spec, unfortunately not!

[@pawelczernik]

​@@CampervanTime Why is that they are not supplying new models anymore?

[@barryjohn7765]

Clearly a quality build but not a patch on the Sven Hedin. Or a Hymer Fiat or Mercedes van.

[@CampervanTime]

They're just quite different that's for sure - good that there is plenty of choice out there.